Caithness Mermaid Mystery 6: There Were Mermaids! August 2, 2016
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
This is the last in the Caithness Mermaid Mystery, for now. A letter written in the John O Groats, 1849 series. Here we have a trusting soul, James Taylor, who knew all the protagonists…
Dublin, 4th May, 1849.
Sir, A considerable portion of the John O’Groat Journal being lately occupied by the appearance of those questionable beings called Mermaids at Sandside Head in 1807 and 1809, and, as being one of the surviving few who knew the parties whose statements are published, I take the liberty to address you. In the year 1807 I was the Parochial Schoolmaster of Bower, and, as such, intimately connected with the late Rev. William Munro, at that time of Thurso, and through him I had introduction to the family of the late Rev. Mr Mackay, minister of Sandside. It would be superfluous in me to say that my friend Mr Munro’s name and character as a Christian and otherwise were far above that of lending his testimony, to any circumstance he was not fully convinced of. And Mr MacKay’s family, who were patterns of virtue, whose wife and sister were women pre-eminent for manners and education, which Caithness ladies then were, and I believe still are, it was impossible that they, accompanied by others, could say, much less sit down to write, what was false, even what there could be doubt about. I may distinctly state that I have heard the circumstances narrated by all the parties themselves at considerate length; and that the letters written to Mrs Innes and Doctor Torrence, who expressed doubt, was at their request put into a more tangible shape, but not intended for publication.
Next we have a comment on a crucial contributor to the debate: Paterson. Taylor puts Paterson’s letter in context.
With Mr Paterson I had not the pleasure of becoming acquainted, but I have understood that he is a man of sterling worth, who comes forward with cogent reasons for his unbelief, but which to me are, to the least, unsatisfactory, grounded on the detail of certain circumstances, which would be odd to mistake. I may, however, inform him that Mr Finlayson (of Hoy Halkirk family) left Sandside soon after and became my predecessor; that Mr Munro succeeded and was the Parochial schoolmaster of Thurso, when I knew him – was in orders – and whose friendship and advice I shall ever value.
He also takes a polite shot at the Davy theory.
I have been well acquainted with the Rev. Will. Maxwell, author of the Wild Sports of the West, in whose locality I resided , and am an admirer of his works of fiction. The same story has been repeated to me, as a native of Caithness, which appears in his notes, and I have told him my belief of the contradiction by a certain convivial baronet, to have been an after dinner story Bath, as matter of pure gossip.
The end is marvellous. Not many people would have written this in 1849. Good for Taylor.
Without farther trespassing on you or your reader’s time, I assert, no matter whatever may he said to the contrary, that the evidence and letters Eliza Mackay, C. Mackenzie, and William Munro, are conclusive of the fact that mermaids have been seen by them at Head in 1807 and 1809 and under the circumstances described. I am, Sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, James Taylor.
11 May 1849, published.
